Electric sign



July 3, 1928.

1,675,851 S. GATKOWSKI ELECTRIC SIGN Filed July 2 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I {mm V L u iv, L .Liness e s A az czn/fg Z cZ z ZZu/SAK his 6111058 I July 3, 1928. 1,675,851

S. GATKOWSKI ELECTRIC SIGN Filed July 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sm/6: G'a/AWSAZ Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES STANLEY GATKOWSKI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

Application filed July 23, 1927. Serial No. 207,970.

My invention relates to an electric sign and more particularly to a portable, light weight sign especially adapted for indoor display and the object of my invention is to provide such an electric sign which is adapt ed to be titted into and made an integral part of a carrying base lid for the purpose of moving the device from place to place for purposes of demonstration and sale.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a device which eliminates the neeessity of using cumbersome alternating current machinery. employing instead thereof a storage or similar battery and a vibrating coil which gives a high frequency and a characteristic flicker to the illumination of the sign.

My invention will be best understood by re terence to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of an electric sign and circuit thereof incorporating my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of that disclosed in Figure 1, but showing the same combined with a suitable carrying case.

in the drawings and for the purpose of illustration, It have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention in which 5 represents an electric sign comprising a relatively small transparent tube 6 of glass or similar material, formed into characters of any suitable type desired to be displayed on the sign. Said tube is filled with a suitable electric conducting gas such as neon or mercury and is adapted to produce a very bright light when an electric current is passed therethrough.

The letters or characters 7 are suitably secured to a backing member 8 for the purpose of supporting the same. A frame member 9 of neat appearance is positioned around the backing member 8 as best shown in Figure 1.

A source of electricity such as the battery 10 may be employed for supplying a potential to the terminals 11 of the vibrator coil 12'. The coil 12' is made of any usual construction as Well understood by those skilled in the art having the primary terminals 11-11 and the secondary terminals 12-12 and being provided with a vibrator armature 13, which operates in the usual manner. Conductors 14 lead from the battery 10 to the vibrator coil and similar conductors 15 lead to the terminals 16 and 17 of the tube (5 for the purpose of completing an electric circuit through the gas within said tube.

In Figure 2 my device is shown arranged in and comprising a portion of the lid of a suitable carrying case 18. From this arrangement it is apparent that when the cover 19 is lifted, the electric sign 5 positioned therein, is placed in a desirable position for the purpose of demonstration, and, as is evi dent. the case may be readily closed upon the sign, the vibrator coil and the batteries, and is then adapted to be carried away by means of a suitable handle 20 on the side of the carrying case.

Having described my invention in its preferred form, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that it is capable of variation without departing from the spirit of the invention and 1 do not wish to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the ap ended claims.

l claim as my invention:

1. A portable electric sign comprising, in combination, a supporting frame; a transparent tube having an electric conducting medium therein; said tube being formed into characters; means for passing an electric current through said tube for illuminating said characters, comprising a source of direct current and means for converting said current into a current of high frequency for causing a flickering illumination of said characters; a carrying case for said sign; said sign being displayed on the inner side of said case lid.

2. A portable electric sign comprising, in combination, 'a supporting frame; a glass tube having an electric conducting gas therein; said tube being formed into letters of a word to be displayed on said sign; means for passing current through said tube for illuminating said letters, comprising a direct current battery and a vibrator induction coil for converting current from said battery into high frequency current for causing the illumination of said letters to flicker; a carrying case for said sign; said sign being adapted to be displayed on the inner side of the lid of said case.

3. A portable electric sign comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a transparent tube having an electric conducting medium therein; said tube being formed into characters; means for assing an, electric adapted to contain said source of direct ourcurrent through said tu c for illuminating rent and converting means; said sign bein said characters, comprising a source of didisplayed on the inner side of saidcase 1i l0 rect current and means for converting said In testimony whereof I have signed my 5 current into a current of high frequency for name to this specification.

causing a flickering illumination of said Y characters; a carrying case forsaid sign j STANLEY GATKOWSKI. 

